They might have been dismissed for a paltry 214 on the opening day of the second cricket Test against India but South Africa coach Russell Domingo said there is no need to press the panic button.
Domingo said his team would look to deal early blows when India resumes their first innings in Bengaluru on Sunday.
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“The past history here says that the pitch does something in the morning. Getting six wickets in a session is possible, and if we do get them, we are back into the game, but we need do some disciplined bowling in the first session tomorrow,” he told reporters at stumps on Day One.
“There is no need for pressing the panic button. We have Hashim and others who are in for big innings. We need to keep working hard and hopefully hard work will bet rewarded in some stage,” he said.
Domingo said his team is inexperienced as seven of their top batsmen have never batted in India before.
“We have an inexperienced side, except Amla, Elgar and AB. Seven-odd top players haven’t played in India. Of course, they would have got the feel of the Indian pitches in the last couple of innings they batted in the series,” he said.
Replying to a query, Domingo said AB de Villiers was disappointed for missing his ton after scoring a superlative 85-run knock, especially when others were deserting him.
“Obviously he was disappointed of getting out. He got out with intent to score runs, and that’s how AB plays his cricket. He played beautifully for 85, but was unlucky he did not get his hundred,” he said.
Domingo said there were far too many soft dismissals. “There were far too many soft dismissals. When you play against a quality bowling attack of India, you got to limit your free-scoring intent,” he said.
Talking about the toss, Domingo said his team was surprised when India skipper Virat Kohli asked them to bat first as they wanted to take advantage of the moisture in the morning session.
“Yes we were surprised (when Kohli asked us to bat). The history of the wicket and statistics suggest that morning sessions help the seamers here. We wanted to bowl first,” he said.
“Definitely, it is a good pitch. We were very happy batting in the morning, we just didn’t play well enough today,” he said.
R Ashwin returned with a four-wicket haul to help India skittle out South Africa for 214.
Asked if R Ashwin’s spin played on the minds of South African batsmen, Domingo said he was a top class bowler in Mohali Test and the team has some work to do to find some remedies when he comes to bowl in the second innings.
“He is a quality bowler and is very consistent in the areas which he hits. He was top-class bowler in the first test, and there is no doubt about it. We got some work to do. We have to find remedies when he comes on to bowl in the second innings,” Domingo said.
Asked whether South Africa brought leg-spinner Imran Tahir late after 17 overs compared to Ashwin who was pressed into service inside ten overs, Domingo said: “I think they are different spinners. Imran is a different type bowler. He is very much a strike bowler, and concedes a few runs than Ashwin who hits the ball in one area consistently.
“Therefore, the captain thought it fit to use Imran in short spells and bring him on, at right times,” he said.
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